{"id":1039,"date":"2021-12-17T18:59:44","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T18:59:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onlinemba.com\/?p=1039"},"modified":"2023-09-27T15:17:15","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T15:17:15","slug":"resources-returning-to-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onlinemba.com\/resources\/returning-to-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Returning to School for an MBA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former students return to college for many reasons and there's no typical profile of a nontraditional student. Whether it's a desire to improve career prospects, move into a new industry, or simply learn for the sake of personal enrichment, there's never a bad reason to resume your studies. If you're interested in returning to school to pursue an MBA, you're likely to be motivated by career goals. Fewer degrees hold more value in the world of business than an MBA, which offers high-level leadership and management skills along with the option to specialize in one area of study, such as marketing or finance. Earning an MBA is almost certain to improve your career prospects and salary potential, as the degree builds high-level business skills and offers opportunities for networking and professional development.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Earning an MBA is almost certain to improve your career prospects and salary potential, as the degree builds high-level business skills.<\/p><\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The rewards of an MBA are well worth pursuing, but if you've been out of school for years, you may worry about re-entering the academic world. Returning MBA students may face challenges such as changing technology, new business knowledge, and the balance between school and other obligations. If you're a working professional, it's unlikely you want to quit your job to pursue a degree, and successfully navigating the responsibilities of work and school is one of the most significant challenges for nontraditional students. It may seem difficult, but it's entirely possible to earn your MBA as a returning adult student, and this guide is a roadmap that helps you with program selection, credit transfer, and more.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Benefits of Returning to School for Your MBA<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Returning to college to earn your MBA dramatically increases your potential for career advancement and a higher salary, and the benefits of the degree are almost certain to outweigh the cost of tuition. With an MBA, you become eligible for a host of advanced positions and career paths, including leadership and management roles that typically come with hefty salary increases. The versatility of the degree also means that you'll likely be able to find work in many different sectors of business. Simultaneously, an MBA opens the door to an array of professional licenses and specialization options that convey advanced business skills and make you more desirable to employers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You might worry that earning your MBA after an extended absence from school makes you look unprofessional, but this is rarely the case. In general, most employers recognize the drive and hard work required to earn the degree, rather than focus on the age at which you earned it. Additionally, returning to school for an MBA shows that you possess the motivation necessary for career advancement. As the chart below indicates, that advancement potential is high.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Average Salaries for Business Administration Graduates by Educational Attainment<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
BBA<\/th>MBA<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
$54,000<\/td>$105,000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Online MBA Programs for Returning Students<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For working students interested in an MBA<\/a>, online learning is an accessible pathway to a degree. The availability of an affordable online MBA program<\/a>, along with its flexibility and convenience, has made it an ideal choice for working adults who have increasingly turned to distance education programs in the past decade. A 2016 Online Learning Consortium<\/a> study notes that 85% of online learners are classified as nontraditional students, and 75% are age 25 or older.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For students with work and family obligations, online learning offers several advantages over campus courses. Many MBA programs offer asynchronous delivery options, which enable you to forgo conventional class meetings and complete coursework when it suits your schedule. It's also possible to complete an online MBA<\/a> at home, eliminating the need to travel to campus. Many programs require only the ability to log on from a computer with an internet connection, making the online MBA<\/a> an ideal choice if you travel frequently. Professional experiences such as internships and practicums form an important part of any MBA<\/a> curriculum, but most schools offer significant flexibility to complete these requirements, allowing you to intern at your current place of employment or with another business in your community.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Transferring Credits as a Returning Student<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If you previously attended college, you may be able to apply some of your old credits toward your MBA, enabling you to complete the degree faster and save time and money. To determine the eligibility of your credits for transfer, you must first request a transcript from your former college, typically by contacting the school registrar. It's important to verify that your former school is properly accredited, as credits from unaccredited colleges usually aren't eligible for transfer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Even if you do possess eligible credits, most schools have a limit on the number of transferable credits they accept.<\/p><\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Transfer policies vary widely between different schools and MBA programs, so you should check with your new school to determine if any of your old credits are eligible. General education courses typically transfer most easily, and you may be able to use old credits to fulfill current general requirements. Even if you do possess eligible credits, most schools have a limit on the number of transferable credits they accept. If you last attended school more than 10 years ago, you may be unable to transfer some or all of your old credits, depending on the subject area. College credits never technically expire, but in fields that change quickly, such as business, credits more than 5-10 years old may be deemed irrelevant or out of date.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Transferable Credits<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Transfer policies between different institutions can be confusing for even the savviest students, but in general, it's easiest to transfer credits between public schools within the same state, as most enforce the same general curriculum standards. Ultimately, it's up to your new college to decide whether your credits are acceptable, and since so many variables and restrictions exist, it's always a good idea to pay close attention to a school's credit transfer policies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n

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